Stevie May's arrival at Aberdeen in the summer of 2017 was met with almost instant hero-worship among the Red Army.

At last a goalscorer with a proven track record to rival Adam Rooney and perhaps even the club's greatest strikers of years gone by such as Eoin Jess, John Hewitt and even Joe Harper.

The Dons splashed £400,000 to pluck the man who had torn up Scottish football with St Johnstone by scoring 32 goals in 80 games from Preston North End.

Such was the hysteria at Pittodrie that the frontman was handed the club's first ever No.83 shirt along with a four-year contract.

And it doesn't take a genius to work out the significance of 'May 83' at Pittodrie.

(Image: SNS Group)

Fast forward a year to the early part of this season however and the striker's reputation was becoming as battered as his namesake at No.10 Downing Street.

Just five goals in 18 months for the Dons - it's one goal in 19 this season - was not the return the demanding Dons faithful had expected and the man with the Bon Jovi hair was finding life in the North-East anything but a Bed of Roses.

For May it looked to be game over. His performances were lacking in belief, goals and probably most importantly luck. He looked a broken man.

But while the supporters questioned what on earth had happened to the player who had almost single-handedly dumped the Dons out of the Scottish Cup with St Johnstone five years ago, one man kept the faith. Manager Derek McInnes.

And at long last there are signs that the striker, still just 26 remember, is beginning to rediscover the form that made him Scottish football's hottest property only a few years ago.

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Tuesday night's performance against Livingston had everything that a manager, and the supporters, could want from a forward. Other than a goal.

May covered every blade of grass at Pittodrie in a man-of-the-match showing as McInnes' side fought back to take the points 3-2 thanks to a last-gasp Lewis Ferguson strike.

May linked up well with Sam Cosgrove and made intelligent runs that saw him fashion a number of chances only to see Liam Kelly deny him that elusive goal. He also played a number of defence-splitting passes which could, and very well should, have made it a more comfortable evening for the Dons.

Not only did he produce intelligent work at the top end of the park though, May was also seen bursting his backside to help out in defence and on one occasion in the second half was actually the deepest man in the Aberdeen side as he started an attack - then found himself on the end of the same move in the Livi box only 30 seconds later.

His performance had pundits and boss McInnes gushing with praise. And, perhaps more importantly, the Pittodrie faithful too.

Stevie May was excellent against Livingston (Image: Getty)

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If ever a player has been willed-on to succeed in the North-East then it's May. The majority of the Dons support have stuck by him, recognising the efforts of the player to pay back the club who gave him his chance after a knee injury put paid to his chances down south.

Former Dons midfielder Stuart Duff has no doubt May is heading back towards his best.

Duff was co-commentating on the Livingston win for RedTV. And he told Record Sport Online: "The signs are there that Stevie May is getting back to his best.

Stuart Duff in action for Aberdeen (Image: David Cheskin/PA Wire)

"When he first signed for Aberdeen he scored within his first couple of games. I thought he was going to hit the ground running. But Stevie would admit he was carrying a bit of weight then and was not at his sharpest.

"In the last few games he has been absolutely excellent. The work he does outwith the box and the runs he is making show he is getting back to his best and it's great to see.

"A lot of fans and pundits had been giving him a hard time thinking he should be strolling this league but you can see glimpses of what he is all about again.

"He is still a top striker who is a step ahead of most of the defenders in the league.

Aberdeen's Stevie May (Image: SNS)

"I would love to play alongside Stevie because he does so much of the unseen dirty work that lots of forwards don't want to do in this day and age.

"His link-up play in the final third against Livi was also excellent and he was seeing runs that guys were making.

"Stevie just needs a goal. It might be a simple tap in or a sclaff. He had a chance again last night but hit it straight at the keeper. He is probably trying too hard.

"But the important thing is that he is finding himself in the positions to get these opportunities. He is making the right runs and the goals will come.

"Stevie and Sam Cosgrove look to be striking up quite a good understanding and the potential is there for them to stake their claim ahead of the January transfer window."